Mikel Merino ‘completes Arsenal medical’ as Real Sociedad midfielder edges closer to finalising ‘£31m deal’ to join the Gunners – as Fabio Vieira looks set to re-join Porto on loan
Mikel Merino has reportedly ‘completed his medical at Arsenal’ and is moving closer to completing a £33million deal that will see him join the north London club from Real Sociedad.
Mail Sport reported last week that Mikel Arteta’s side had reached an agreement in principle with the LaLiga club to sign the Spain international, as the Gunners look to bolster their midfielders.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday that Merino, 28, had ‘completed his medical’ at Arsenal and that both clubs ‘exchanged documents’
He wrote on X: ‘As a new Arsenal player, Mikel Merino has completed his medical. The clubs have exchanged documents and the deal has been completed.
‘Fixed fee of €32m (£27m), add-ons of €5m (£4.23) and a contract until June 2028, plus an option for an additional season.’
If the deal goes ahead, Merino will become Arsenal’s third permanent transfer of the summer after the Gunners signed David Raya from Brentford and Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for £42m.
The transfer managers at the North London club were keen to sign another midfielder this summer, with sporting director Edu in Spain this week to finalise the deal.
Fabio Vieira looks set to complete a loan move to Porto soon, having only arrived in the capital two years ago.
Despite joining the club for £30million in 2022, Vieira has struggled to make an impact in Arteta’s team and was left out of the Gunners’ squad for their 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
Merino played a key role in Spain’s successful campaign at Euro 2024, featuring in every match of the tournament and helping Luis de la Fuente’s side to their fourth European title.
The 28-year-old could play alongside Declan Rice in Arsenal’s midfield and already has experience of playing in England. He moved to Newcastle in 2017, initially on loan from Borussia Dortmund before leaving permanently in 2018.
His stay at St James’ Park was not to last long, however. That same summer, Merino returned to Real Sociedad, where he scored 27 goals and provided 30 assists in 242 appearances in all competitions for the Spanish club.
The Spaniard has only one year left on his contract with Sociedad and was not on the list for the opening LaLiga games against Rayo Vallecano and Espanyol.
